St. John Bosco’s Logan Loya runs for the endzone as the Braves take on DeMatha Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. John Bosco’s Jabari Bates gets taken down by DeMatha defense as the two battle it out Saturday night, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. John Bosco’s Kris Hutson makes his way on the outside and scores a touchdown for the Braves Saturday, August 24, 2019 as they take on DeMatha in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

Sound

The gallery will resume inseconds

St. John Bosco’s Matt Colombo waves the American Flag as his team gets ready to take the field against DeMatha Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. John Bosco’s DJ Uiagalelei warms up at the half as Braves take on DeMatha Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. John Bosco’s Beaux Collins and Jode McDuffie celebrate as Collins scores a touchdown for the Braves Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellfower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

The St. John. Bosco Cheerleaders put on a show for Halftime as the Braves take on DeMatha Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. John Bosco students ham it up for the tv cameras at the big game Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. Johns Bosco’s Kris Hutson makes the catch and looks to get past DeMatha’s Harold Peters as the two teams battle it out Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. John Bosco’s Michael Hayes makes his way thorough to score a touchdown for the Braves Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

St. John Bosco’s Kobe Pepe appears to grab the fumble though it was ruled otherwise as the Braves take on DeMatha Saturday, August 24, 2019 in Bellflower. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)

BELLFLOWER – St. John Bosco started the 2019 season slowly and quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was as wild as a relief pitcher without control. But even amid that, the Braves still dominated in their season opener over DeMatha of Hyattsville, Maryland, 35-7, at Panish Field.

Uiagalelei misfired on nine of his first 11 throws but still finished the evening with 322 yards passing and two touchdowns on a 17-for-36 night.

Logan Loya was his favorite target, with nine catches for 163 yards. The Braves defense limited the Stags’ passing game to a 2-for-13 night for Malakai Anthony, for 62 yards.

“We were a little sloppy on offense,” coach Jason Negro said. “But for a first game, you kind of expect the mistakes and unforced penalties.

“We beat a top-10 team, so it was a good win. They’re strong on both lines and I thought we did a good job handling them.”

Negro said Uiagalelei’s night was likely related to mechanics.

“He was wild but he still came through with a lot of big throws,” the coach said. “He made big plays at big times. The two runs he broke both set up scored.”

The standout was Loya, a senior transfer from Orange Lutheran who was looking for a program that threw the ball more. He turned out to be Uiagalelei’s favorite target. Kris Hutson had five catches for 99 yards.

“With all the hoopla about Kris and Beaux (Collins), it was interesting that Logan became a go-to guy,’’ Negro said. “He gives us another dimension.’’

Jabari Bates had a 50-yard scoring run on a night that the Braves rotated four players at running back.

The Braves scored on their second possession, with Uiagalelei completing a 25-yard and 35-yard pass to Loya, the latter on a fourth-and-4 play, and Michael Hayes plunged in from the 2-yard-line for a 7-0 lead.

DeMatha, a longtime power in Maryland, went three-and-out on its first three possessions before finally increasing the tempo on offense and drawing even in the second quarter. MarShawn Lloyd had a 28-yard burst to get to the Braves 33.

On a fourth-and-long situation, quarterback Malakai Anthony took a few steps forward to show run but then pulled up and fired a 33-yard scoring pass to Lloyd.

Bosco gathered itself, Loya catching two short passes and Kris Hutson then taking a short pass and turning it into a 56-yard touchdown.

Uiagalelei had four completions on the next drive, making a nice adjustment himself to avoid a rush and find Beaux Collins in the back of the end zone for a seven-yard score and 21-7 lead.

The Stags moved the ball nicely on the first drive of the second half, but a fourth-down pass was incomplete. The Braves moved quicker on the ensuing drive, Uiagalelei scrambling for 21 yards and then finding Hudson for receptions of 14 and 31 to get to the two, were Bates scored to make it 28-7.

Join the Conversation

We invite you to use our commenting platform to engage in insightful conversations about issues in our community. Although we do not pre-screen comments, we reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions.

If you see comments that you find offensive, please use the “Flag as Inappropriate” feature by hovering over the right side of the post, and pulling down on the arrow that appears. Or, contact our editors by emailing moderator@scng.com.